Olive oil is produced in the Aegean region and commonly used in cooking, cosmetics, soaps and pharmaceuticals. All over the Mediterranean you can see olive groves and whilst it is not clear where olive trees were first domesticated it is common knowledge that the wild olive tree originated from Turkey.

Olive trees can live for over a thousand years. They are hardy evergreens and a mature olive tree of about 3 to 4 metres in height can produce up to 40kg per year. It will produce good olives for at least 100 years.

There are many varieties of olive tree and olives start off green and turn black when they ripen. Harvest time determines the colour of the olive.

In Tavakli village ( Tavakli koyu ) there are four olive production factories. This is an important commodity for this region of Turkey and Ezine District produces some of the finest olives and olive oil in the country.